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2008 Cuvaison Carneros Chardonnay (Previously $16)

SKU #1052913

Cuvaison's Carneros Chardonnay comes from the winery's own estate in the southern part of Napa Valley. This cool climate vineyard allows nearly perfect conditions year after year to produce world class Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah. Controlling all farming aspects within their own vineyard gives Cuvaison an advantage in producing the best quality fruit therefore minimizing over manipulation at the winery. This 2008 offers an aroma of kiwi, clove spice, nectarine and lime zest with a hint of toasty oak. On the palate this exquisite Chardonnay is chock full of lush, mouth filling flavors of peach, apricot and papaya backed by vanilla and allspice. From Wine Enthusiast: "Here's a good, rich and super-drinkable Chardonnay. It shows oak-inspired flavors of pineapples, peaches and green apples that taste like they were baked into a pie. Finishes clean and zesty in acidity." (08/10)

Product Reviews:

This version of California Chardonnay is a version that should happen more often. This wine exemplifies what balance in a wine should be. The oak and richness is certainly present in this wine, the mouth feel is lush and carries a bit of toastiness with it, but it is rich without being fat and heavy. The fruit on the pallet is made up of tropical fruit, kiwi, mango; these flavors are tied into the oak with baking spices. Overall a wine well done.

If you like your Chardonnays lush but not over the top then this bargain may be for you. Sourced from a cool part of Carneros, this has good acidity to hold up the lush flavors of stone fruits, tropical fruits, nectarine, lime, clove and vanilla. This is full-bodied and rich but never heavy.

In a world where too many wineries are mass producing overly creamy and oak dominated California Chardonnays, Cuvaison is a breath of fresh air. This wine is well balance, showing notes of stone fruit and baking spices with solid structure, acidity, and a good dose of minerality. This is one California chardonnay worth trying!

One of my major complaints about most Chardonnays being produced in California is that they are way overdone with too much oak and alcohol, and too much creaminess. Moreover, many producers of that ilk also leave a bit of residual sugar in the finish wine to make it "bigger and richer." The theory, as it was expressed to me some years ago by one winemaker, is that the average American wine consumer will tell everyone that they like their white wines dry, but in reality they do not - or there wouldn't have been the off-dry to sweet White Zinfandel craze that took place nearly 30years ago. More importantly, it is almost impossible to match food (other than cheese) to that style of Chardonnay. That is why it is so refreshing to discover a Chardonnay that is dry, has good acidity and structure, and the emphasis is totally on the presentation of varietal fruit, as with the Cuvaison 2008 Carneros Charonnay. Eby has informed me that this Gem will be one of our house Chardonnays for the month. (Jim Barr)

This is a cool climate Carneros Chardonnay that is exploding with wonderful fruit and winter spice. On the nose are bright kiwi, peach and apricot flavors, followed by a mouthful of rich minerals and spice like nutmeg and cloves. It finishes with toasty oak and great acidity. Perfect for the winter season with its medium to full bodied expression, this is a for-sure hit for any occasion, party, or anyone you want to please, just pour them a glass and smiles will begin to shine.

I am really surprised to read that many positive reviews. I found this wine very unremarkable. Tasted like liquid marshmellows, creamy, oaky, absolutely nothing special. The third day, wine had seen some oxygen and burnt. Overall, there are better deals, at least from French or Kiwi producers. This wine does not help convince an "ABC"-wine drinker...

Additional Information:

Varietal:

Chardonnay

- It's hard to believe that up until about 30 years ago, this extremely popular varietal hid behind the veil of geographical names like Chablis and Puligny-Montrachet. Now grown all over the world and bottled by its varietal name, Chardonnay has achieved a level of branding unlike any other wine. Surprisingly, though, what you get when you buy Chardonnay can differ greatly from country to country and even within one country, depending on the climate where it's grown and how it is vinified and aged. From fresh, crisp and minerally with apple and lemon notes to rich and buttery with tropical fruit overtones, Chardonnay runs the gamut.
In France's Burgundy, Chardonnay is the source of the prized wines of Chablis, Corton-Charlemagne, Mâcon, Meursault and Montrachet. It also the foundation of exceptional Champagne, where it is blended with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier or vinified on its own into Blanc de Blancs. It is also extremely popular in California, and is gaining popularity in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and South Africa.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world. Click for a list of bestselling items from the United States.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year. For our entire selection of California wines, please visit this link.

Specific Appellation:

Carneros

- Just across the Golden Gate from San Francisco, Carneros is kept cool by Bay breezes and thick fog, and has long been famous for cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling wine based on the two varietals. Warmer pockets have proved interesting and promising homes for syrah, cabernet and merlot.